transcranial magnetic stimulation Posts

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) passes an unimpeded magnetic field through the scalp and skull.

The action on the brain is caused by electromagnetic induction, which is basically creating electrical activity within a very specific part of the brain through a changing magnetic field.

The magnetic field has been optimised for the therapy and the dose given to a precise part of the brain.

This article will also discuss tSMS or Transcranial Static Magnetic Field Stimulation.

Research has found it to be as effective as anti-depressants and that’s even with patients who did not respond to anti-depressant medication.

Transcranial, meaning through the cranium (or skull) with magnetic fields into the brain, is where the term Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is derived. Sometimes known as repetitive rTMS, it directs strong magnetic field pulses into specific parts of the brain to stimulate a response. For instance, the prefrontal cortex is a target to treat depression. The magnetic treatment has been approved in many countries such as the United States for the treatment of medication resistant depression. However in countries such as Australia, it has yet to receive access to Medicare funding. TMS is an emerging field with many therapeutic applications and a growing list of conditions such as anxiety, PTSD and OCD.